Democratic Alliance's Athol Trollip said his party respected Mandela for what he did for South Africa and his love for children.

Mandela would not attend the festivities in his village because he would be spending the day at home with family in Johannesburg.

Controversial abaThembu king, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo presented the Mandela family with a Nguni cow for Mandela.

The king is facing a 15-year jail sentence for a string of violent crimes and he recently made headlines when he called for an independent state for abaThembu stretching from certain parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

His offences include culpable homicide, kidnapping, arson and assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.